Throughout the All-Star break, many Milwaukee Bucks fans have held their breath waiting for an update on Giannis Antetokounmpo’s injured wrist.
They can now breathe a sigh of relief with ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, among others, reporting that Antetokounmpo suffered a sprained ligament in his right wrist and will undergo treatment with the expectation that he’ll be able to return to the lineup once the pain subsides.
Reactions to encouraging update on Giannis Antetokounmpo’s injured wrist
Knowing that Antetokounmpo should be okay once pain-free is the best news anyone could have asked for. After Khris Middleton’s wrist soreness caused problems late last season and eventually led to offseason wrist surgery, there was a reason to be worried about the same fate for Antetokounmpo.
Antetokounmpo gave it a go in the NBA All-Star Game on Sunday night, scoring the game’s opening points before taking a foul and subbing out for the remainder of the game. Antetokounmpo being unable to play more than a few seconds in the game was not a reassuring sight for Bucks fans. The good news is that it was likely out of caution more than anything else.
Antetokounmpo is in the midst of a career year for the Bucks this season, averaging a career-high 31.8 points per game, 12.2 rebounds, and 5.4 assists. He is currently second on NBA.com’s KIa MVP Ladder behind Nikola Jokic, the winner of the last two MVP awards. When healthy, Antetokounmpo will have an opportunity to chase Jokic and possibly capture the third MVP of his career.
The Bucks will need Antetokounmpo for a lot more than only winning an MVP award down the stretch. Antetokounmpo’s ability to attract defenders and create open looks for himself and his teammates is unmatched by anybody on the Bucks and possibly the entire league.
The Bucks received good news on their superstar’s injury today, but that wasn’t the only news out of Milwaukee today. The team also signed big man Meyers Leonard to a 10-day contract. It’s unknown if Leonard is an insurance policy while Antetokounmpo recovers or if he’s genuinely a part of the organization’s plans. Either way, it’s excellent that Antetokounmpo should be back in action soon.
Stay tuned for updates on Antetokounmpo’s recovery and the Bucks’ push for another championship.